Dr.Thomas (Sub-Editor)
Bengaluru special court on Friday granted bail to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the defamation case filed by the Karnataka BJP unit.
The case concerns allegedly defamatory advertisements published in mainstream newspapers.
The BJP’s complaint alleged that advertisements in local newspapers and “false campaigning” by Congress ahead of the 2023 state assembly elections damaged the BJP’s image.
The case was registered against the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC),CM Siddaramaiah,Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar,and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
The court granted bail on June 1st to chief minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar,who is also the state Congress chief,after they appeared in connection with the defamation case.
Former Member of Parliament (MP) DK Suresh provided property worth ₹75 lakh as security.
The defamation case was filed by BJP leader Keshav Prasad, against Rahul Gandhi,Shivakumar and against Karnataka Chief Minister (CM) Siddaramaiah, citing the advertisements and campaigning slogans of Congress party during the lead up to the 2023 Karnataka assembly elections.
In the ads,the Congress party had alleged that the BJP, which was then in power in the State,was charging up to 40 percent commission/ bribes from contractors and others for execution of public works.
BJP in its complaint accused Congress leaders of spreading false advertisements targeting its party members including the then Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.
On June 1, Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar appeared personally before the Court which granted bail to the duo subject to furnishing bail bonds of ₹5,000 each.
